Automatic playing attachment for musical instruments.



No. 7I|,004. Patented Oct. I4, |902. l

H. M. SALYER. AUTDIATIC PLAYING ATTACHMENT FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS'.

(Application filed Nov. 3, 1900A 3 Sheath-Sheet i.

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,fw ATTORNEY Patented Dct. I4, |902. H. M. SALYER.

AUTDIATIC PLAYING ATTACI'IIENT FOR MUSICAL INSTRUIENTS.

(Application Med Nov. 8, 1900.) (No Model.)

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No. 7|I,004. Patented Oct. I4, |902.

H. M. SALYER. AUTOMATIC PLAYING ATTACHMENT FUR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

(Applicltion led Nov. 3, 1900.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I I II I: II l Ii l II .I I: i 5

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s 4 INV NTOR UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

HARRY M. SALYER, OF NETV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO LUDVIG tt' CO., OF NEV YORK, N. Y., A FIRM.

AUTOMATIC PLAYING ATTACHMENT FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 711,004, dated October 14, 1902.

Application filed November 3,1900. Serial No. 35,306. (No model) To alt whom ib may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRY M. SALYEE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of the Bronx, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Playing Attachments for Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic playing attachments for musical instruments.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved self-playing attachment of this kind which is simple in construction, can readily be applied on musical instruments, and by means of which any desired note can be automatically accentuated or played differently from other notes that are played at the time being or at other times.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures, Figure 1 is a diagram mat-ical sectional elevation of my improved pneumatic key-striking mechanism. Fig. 2 shows a modification. Fig. 3 isa diagram matical elevation of a group of valves for strikers, showing the pneumatic connections. Figs. 4t and 5 are similar views showing modifications in the pneumatic connections. Fig. 6 is an outline View, partlyin section, of a modification ofthe valve mechanism for the pneumatic striker.

A row of holes tt is formed in the bottom A of a compressed-air chamber, and over said row of holes a musicsheet B is passed, which has holes l) that can register with the holes a. The compressed air presses the sheet B upon the bottom A of the chamber, and the compressed air can only escape when one or more holes l) in the note or music sheet .B register with one or more holes a in the bottom A of the chamber. All holes a but six in the construction shown in Fig. l are connected by a tube C with the valve mechanism of a pneumatic key-striker. As one such striker is provided for each key lo be operated, of two, three, or four octaves or for each key on the keyboard, and these strikers are all alike, but one will be described. The funncl-shaped chamber D has a bottom neck for guiding the striker-rod D', provided at its upper inner end with a rounded head and at its lower end with the recessed head D3 for receiving and holding a pad or button D, of felt, cork, rubber, &c. A helical spring D, surrounding the rod D', presses the same upward. A diaphragm D, of leather or other suitable material, is clamped at its edges between the upper edges of the chamber D and a cap-plate D5, preferably having the shape of a cone and having its bottom peripheral screw-threaded edge screwed into the inner screw-threaded peripheral edge of the chamber D, the diaphragm resting on the top head D2 of the rod D'. A block E is made integral with the top of the cap D5 and is provided with a flaring neck E', into which a cap l2 is screwed, which cap has a recess F3 in its inner end, from which recess a duct E4 leads to the outer surface of the cap, and the above-mentioned tube C is connected with the outer end of said duct E, A vent-apertu re E5 extends from the duct E4 to the outer surface of the cap, and the size of this vent-opening can readily be adj usted by means of ascrew E". A diaphragm F is clamped at its edges be tween the block E and cap F.2 and rests against or is secured to one end of a valve-stem F', mounted to reciprocate in a bore FT in the block E, at the ends of which bore the valve seats F2 and F3 are formed, against which the two valves F4 and F5 on the valve-stem F' can seat, one being always unseated while the other is seated. Adjacent to the diaphragm F the bore F7 is enlarged into a chamber F8, from which a vent-opening F'5 extends to the outer air. A duct F9 extends from the bore F7 to the top of the cap D5, and the recess F10 at that end of the bore F7 opposite the chamber FS is in communication with the compressed-air chamber G. When it is not desired to have a mechanism for accentuating notes, this communication is direct, as shown in Fig. 2; but when such accentuating mechanism is to be provided the communication is established in the manner shown in Fig. l, which accentuating mechanism will now be described.

A block H extends through the compressedair chamber G and its inner open end is in communication with the recess FIO of the block E, and by means of the ducts H"H2 the air-chamber G is brought into communicat tion with the recess F43 of the block E, which end part of the block H, and which valve is xed on one end of the valve-stem H3, mounted to reciprocate in a suitable bore in the block H and secured at its outer end to a diaphragm H3, clamped between the outer end of the block H and a cap H7, screwed into a threaded opening in said outer end. A recess H3 in said cap is in communication with the tubes I and M. The air-chamber G is connected by the tube G with a compressedair-supply tank G3, in which a constant or nearly -constant pressure is maintained by some suitable contrivance. The tube M leads to the cap H7 of another striker mechanism corresponding to a white key and the tube I leads to a neck J of a block J, having a bore J2 in communication with said neck and terminating` in the opposite recesses J3 and J4, containingr the valves J3 and J3 on opposite ends of a stem J7, passing through the bore and adapted to seat on the seats J3 and J3, and said valve-stem is connected with or rests against the diaphragm ,113, clamped in outer air.

one end of the block J by a cap K, having a recess K and a duct K3, extending from the said recess K to the outer surface of the cap K. A vent-aperture K3 extends from the duct K3 to the outer air and can be adjusted in size by the screw K4. A tube C' leads from the duct K2 to one of six apertures a a3 a3 a4 a3 d3 in the row of apertures a for a purpose that will be set forth hereinafter. A vent K3 extends from the recess J4 to the A block L extends through a second air-chamber L and is screwed into the block J and by means of ducts L2 and L3 establishes communination between said chamber L and the recess J3. A tube L4, provided with a stop-cock L3, connects the airchambers G and L. A neck L3, communicating with the bore J3, is lconnected with a tube z", which extends to the valve mechanism of another key-striker, as will be explained hereinafter. The mechanism y in block J will hereinafter be referred to as the controllen Assuming now for the present and for the purpose of illustration only that the entire mechanism is for but a single key and that the tubes t" and M are closed, the operation is as follows: When a hole b in the note-sheet B registers with the upper end of the tube C, compressed air passes through said tube and, acting on the diaphragm F, which, as is seen,is of considerable area, moves the same and the valves F4 and F3 to the left, whereby the valve F3 is seated and the valve F4 unseated. The compressed air can now pass, Fig. 2, from the chamber G through the duct F3 into the cap D3 and forces the diaphragm D11 and rod D4 downward rapidly, whereby the key below the pad D4 is struck. The parts remain in these positions as long as the compressed air can pass from the chamber through the tube C. As soon as this communication is interrupted by the shifting of the note-sheet B the compressed air remaining in the tube C escapes through the vent E3 and theair-pressurc on the valve F4 seats the same, at the same time unseating the valve F3 and permitting the air in the' cap D3 to escape through the vent F3, the spring D3 raising the striker-rod D ready for the next stroke and in like manner every time a hole b registers with the upper end of the tube C. In case the accentuating mechanism is provided,

as shown in Fig. l, and the key is to be struck, f

but not accentuated, the operation is similar and as follows: When compressed air is admitted into the tube C,the valve F4 is untreated and the compressed air in the recess F13 immediately passes into the cap D3 but the consequent reduction of pressure in the recess F43 permits the greater pressure in the chamber G to force the valve 'H3 from its seat, whereby a sufficient quantity of compressed air is permitted to pass into the cap D3 to force down the striker-rod D suddenly and the desired object is obtained, and this operation is repeated every time compressed air is admitted into the tube C. When the valve F4 is again seated, the pressure increases in the recess F43 and assists the diaphragm H3 in seating the valve H3. When the note is to be accentuatedthat is, the corresponding key struck a harder blow-an extra hole b in the note-sheet B must register with the hole a and tube C at the same time that the hole b in the note-sheet B registers with the hole `(t and tube C, as shown in Fig. 1, so that at the same time that compressed air passes from the chamber through the tube C compressed air also passes through the tube C and, acting on the diaphragm J43, seats the valve J3 and unseats the evalve J3, permitting compressed air to pass from the chamber L'and ducts L2 L3 through the tube I into the recess H3 inthe cap H7. Thereby a pressure is exerted on the outside of the diaphragm H3 and the valve H3 is fully opened, permitting a much greater quantity of compressed air to pass from the chamber G into the cap D3, and in consequence thestriker-rod is pressed down with greater force and strikes the key a much harder blow. Itis very evident that if an accentuating-aperture would have to be provided for each key in addition to the aperture b for each key the note-sheet would have to be uncommonly wide and the mechanism very complicated and expensive. For that reason the accentuating mechanisms for all keys of the same denomination are connected. For example, a single accentuating controlling mechanism, such as block J and mechanism therein, is connected with the striking mechanism for the key F of each octave and likewise for the keys G, and so on. This would require seven accentuating-controllers for the seven white keys-namely, F G A B C D E- but thereby no provision would be made for IOO IIO

the black keys,representing F-sharp, G-sharp, A-sharp, C-sharp, D-sharp, and to provide for these keys tive more accentuating-controllers would be required, or twelve in all; but as none of these keys and the corresponding sharps are struck at the same time the sha1-ps can be combined with the same controllers. As shown in Fig. 3, I have six controllers l, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, all connected with a common air-chamber L. The tubes C C2 C3 C4 C5 C extend from the apertures a a2 d3 a4 a5 a6 to the several controllers, and the tubes I I2 13 I4 I5 I(S extend from the controllers to the striking` mechanisms for the keys of one octave, excepting the striker for the key C, which is omitted. The tubes i 212 1% extend to the striking mechanism of the corresponding black keys F-sharp, G-sharp, A-sharp, C-sharp, and D-sharp, and the tube c t0 the striking mechanism of the white key C, which was omitted, as stated above, the tubes M M2 M3 ML M5 Mb M7 connecting the corresponding striking mechanisms for the white keys in octaves, and in like manner the black-keystriking mechanisms are to be connected. Each controller thus controls two striking mechanisms in each octave,and six controllers suffice for the entire keyboard. When the striking mechanism for any F key is accentuated, all F-key-striking mechanisms as well as all F-sharp-key-striking mechanisms are capable of accentuation, but of course the accentuating mechanism operates only in the striking mechanism of that key to which compressed air has been admitted at the same time through its tube C. As shown in Fig. 4, the tubes N pass direct to the caps H7 of the striking mechanisms and the controllers are omitted, but each octave has a controlling-screw O in the compressed-air-supply tube, and from each tube N a branch tube N extends to the valve mechanism ofthe striker for the corresponding black key,as previously explained. As shown in Fig. 5, I do not couple the white and black key mechanisms for accentuating purposes, but couple all the valve mechanisms of all strikers for the F keys by a tube P and extend a tube O from one valve mechanism to an accentuating-hole in the bottom of the chamber A. In a like manner all valve mechanisms for F-sharp keys are united and one of the same is connected by a tube O2 with an accentuatinghole, and so on, so that in place of six accentuating air-holes in the bottom A of the chamber I have twelve, and must necessarily have twelve corresponding rows of holes b in the note-sheet B, thus requiring a wider notesheet.

In Fig. 6 a somewhat-modified construction of the valve mechanism is shown. The compressed air passes from the tank G2 into a supply-tube Q, and from the same through the tube R, having the stop-cock R', into the chamber L, and through the tube R2 into the pressurereducing valve R3, and from the same through the tube RA1 to the chamber G. The pressure-reducin g Valve has a diaphragm S, on which a spring S presses, which can be adjusted by a screw S2. A valve-stem S3, attached to the diaphragm S, carries a valve S, seating on a transverse partition S5 in the reducingvalve casing. The tube R2 terminates in a recess S in said partition, which recess communicates with the compartment S7 of the casing, and this compartment is in communication with the compartment SS and with the tube R, The spring S is set according to the desired pressure and holds the valve S4 a determined distance from its seat. If the pressure in the tube R2 increases, this increased pressure acts on the diaphragm S in opposition to the spring S' and moves the valve S4 nearer its seat, thus permitting less compressed air to pass to the chamber G. When the pressure in the tube R2 decreases, the spring S' can move the valve S4 away from its seat correspondingly. A puppet-valve T controls communication between the recess F10 and the tubes I and M, and a puppet- Valve T controls communication between the air-chambers G and L. Vhen the accentuating mechanism is not required, the cock R is closed. When the accentuati11g-controller is not operated and only the valve F4t and F5 shifted in the manner described hereinbefore, the reduced pressure in the recess F10 permits the pressure in the chamber G to force down the valve T, and compressed air is admitted from the chamber G into the striking mechanism. When the accentuating mechanism is operated, the pressure of air in the tube I opens the Valve T also, and thus a greater quantity of compressed air is at once admitted into the striking mechanism and a. more powerful blow is delivered on the key.

I have only shown the mechanism as adapt' ed for operation by compressed air, but it is very evident that without departing from the spirit of the invention and merely by reversing certain parts and making slight mechanical changes the apparatus will work as well with rareed air as with compressed ai r. For example, in Fig. 2 the chamber G would only need be connected with the space below the diaphragm D and the tube C connected with the space at the opposite side ofthe diaphragm F, and the same holds good for the other coustructions shown.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination with a striker for musical instruments, of a pneumatic mechanism for operating the striker, a valve mechanism for governing the actuation of said strikeroperating mechanism by a variation of the air-pressure on parts ot said striker-operating mechanism, additional means for governing the actuation of said striker-actuating mechanism, by a variation of the air-pressure on said striker-actuating mechanism, which IOO IIO

second means act only in conjunction with the valve mechanism, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. The combination withaseries of strikers for the keys of amusical instrument, of a pneumatic mechanism for each striker, for operating the same by a variation of air-pressure, means for governing this variation of air-pressure, additional means for governing the variation of air-pressure for each strikeroperating mechanism, these latter means for two or more striker-operating mechanisms being pneumatically coupled, substantially as-herein shown and described.

3. The combination with a series of strikers for the keys of a musical instrument, of a pneumatic mechanism for each striker, for operating the same, bya variation of air-pressure in the mechanism, means for governing the variation of air-pressure in said strikeroperating mechanism, additional means for governing the variation of the air-pressure in said striker-operating mechanism, these latter means in two or more octaves being connected pneumatically with each other, substantially as herein shown and described.

4. The combination with a series of strikers .for the keys of a musical instrument, of a for the striker-operating mechanism of twoV adjacent keys, in one and the same octave, are coupled pneumatically, substantially as herein shown and described.

5. The combination with a series of keystrikers for the keys of a musical instrument, of a pneumatic mechanism for each striker, operating the same by a variation of the airpressure, means for governing such variation p of air-pressure in said striker-operating mechanism, additional means for governingthe variation of such air-pressu re for each striker-operating mechanism, which additional means for the pneumatic striker-operating mechanism fortwo adjacent keys in one and the same octave and the corresponding keys in other octaves are coupled pneumatically, substantially as herein shown and described.

6. The combination with a series of strikers for the keys of a musical instrument,of pneumatic mechanisms for operating the same by a variation of air-pressure on said striker-operating mechanisms, means for governing such Variations of air-pressure for said strikeroperating mechanisms, an additional means for each pneumatic striker-operating mechanism for governing this variation in airpressure, a series of pneumatically-operated controllers for the additional governing means, each controller being pneumatically connected with a series of such additional governing means, substantially as herein shown and described.

7. The combination with a plate, having a series of wind-openings, oi' aseries of strikers for the keys of a musical instrument,a pneumatic mechanism for each striker for operating it by a Variation of air-pressure on parts of the striker-operating mechanism, a means pertaining to each pneumatic striker-operating mechanism for governing such variation in air-pressure,a tube extending from each of such means to a wind-opening in said plate, additionall means pertaining toeach pneumatic striker-operating mechanism for aecting such variation in air-pressure, a controller with which the additional means of the pneumatic striker mechanism is pneumatic- Vally connected and a tube connecting each controller with a wind-opening in said plate, substantially as herein shown and described.

8. The combination With a plate having a series of wind-openin gs, of a series of strikers for the keys of a musical instrument, a pneuthe pneumatic operating mechanism of the strikers for two corresponding keys in each octave of the keyboard, and a tube connecting each controller with a Wind-opening in said plate, substantially as herein shown and described.

9. The combination with a striker fora musical-instrument key, of a pneumatic mechanism for operating the striker, a valve mechanism for governing the admission of air under pressure to said pneumatic striker-oper- IIO ating mechanism, and an additional valve mechanism for governing the admission of air under pressure,\vhich second valve mechanism operates effectively, only in conjunction with first valve mechanism, of the pneumatic striker-operating,mechanism to which both said valve mechanisms pertain, substantially as herein shown and described.

l0. The combination with a striker for the key of a musical instrument, of a pneumatic mechanism for operating the striker, a valve mechanism for governing the passage of air under pressure, to the pneumatic striker-operating mechanism, an additional valve mechanism pertaining to said pneumatic strikeroperating mechanism, for governing the passage of air to the pneumatic striker-operatin g mechanism,in conjunction with the first valve mechanism only, and a controllingvalve mechanism aiecting the above-mentioned additional valve mechanism only, substantially as herein shown and described.

IIS

ll. The combination with a striker, for the key of a musical instrument, of a pneumatic mechanism for operating the striker, a valve mechanism for governing the admission of air under pressure into said pneumatic strikeroperating mechanism, an additional valve mechanism pertaining to said pneumatic striker-operating mechanism for controlling the admission of air under pressure to said pneumatic striker-operating mechanism,each valve mechanism pertaining only to the one pneumatic striker-operating mechanism to which it is attached and the additional valve mechanism being dependent for the effect of its actuation upon the actuation of the firstmentioned valve mechanism, substantially as herein shown and described.

l2. In an automatic playing attachment for musical instruments, the combination with a series of strikers, each serving independently of all others, for operating a single soundproducing mechanism of the musical instrument, a pneumatic mechanism for each striker for operating the same, a valve mechanism pertaining to each pneumatic striker-operating mechanism for governing the admission of air under pressure to said pneumatic striker-operating mechanism, and each valve mechanism connected with and pertaining to only one pneumatic striker-operating mechanism, an additional valve mechanism pertaining to each pneumatic striker-operating mechanism for governing the admission of air under pressure to said pneumatic striker-operating mechanism, each additional valve mechanism pertaining to only one pneumatic striker-operating mechanism and operating effectively only in conjunction with the firstmentioned valve mechanism of the pneumatic striker-operating mechanism to which both said valve mechanisms pertain, substantially as herein shown and described.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York andv State of New York, this lst day ol November, A. D. 1900.

HARRY M. SALYER.

Vitnesses:

OSCAR A. GUN-z, N. M. FLANNERY. 

